Condenser



Aug. 17, 194s. E UCKE 2,447,259

CONDENSER I Filed Feb. l2, 1945 7/////////////////////////// //////////////////M \\\\\//f A Ehen/E5 E. LLI/:KB INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 17, Y194s CONDENSER Charles E. Lucke, New York, N. Y., assigner to Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation, Harrison, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application February 12, 1945, Serial N0. 577,412 2 Claims. (Cl 285-30) This invention relates to surface condensers, and more particularly to the type wherein provision is made for accommodating relative expension and contraction of the tubes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a condenser wherein the tubes are so connected with the tube sheets which are fixed to the shell as to elTectively accommodate relative ex-Y pansion and contraction of the individual tubes with respect to the tube sheets without disrupting the connections between the tubes and the tube sheet structure.

Another object is to provide arsurface condenser provided with tubes which are so mounted in the tube sheets as to have free axial movement relatively to the tube sheets to accommodate eXn pansion and contraction of the individual tubes or relative axial shifting of the tube sheets, and in which novel means are provided for establishing fluid-tight joints between the individual tubes and the tube sheets, wherein the jointsare of such construction as to accommodate all rsuch relative expansion, and contraction, and shifting of the condenser lparts without disruptingthe joints, f Y

Such structures as herein contemplated include vacuum condensers for steam power plants in which it is desired that the condenser steam or condensate be pure water utilized for feeding the boilers, and in which foul water, contaminated water, and impure water are normally used as circulating water to effect condensation of the steam. Leakage of any such circulating water into the steam condensate space would contaminate the condensate and make it unsuitable for boiler feeding purposes. This is especially serious in connection with modern high pressure boilers. Therefore, condensers made in accordance with the present invention are important in con nection with steam power plants, especially condensers of the high vacuum type.

'2 features forming the invention will'be specifical-y ly pointed out in the claims. j

In the drawings: j Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of a conventional condenser illustrating the present invention incorporated therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a portion of one of the condenser tubes illustrating the fluid-tight connection` between one of the tubes and the tube sheet.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Y

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrat-ing a diierent form of construction.

Figure 5 is a viewsimilar to Figure 2 and illustrating another type of construction.

Referring more particularly to .the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a condenser I0 which includes a shell II and heads I2. Tubes I3 are incorporated in the shell II, with the ends of the tubes supported in tube sheets I4, the latter being xed tothe shell structure Il in the usual manner, aswby clamping the tube sheets between the ends of the shell and the heads I2. Figure 2 illustrates the manner in which fluid-tight con-l nections are established between the individual tubes and the tube sheet, which connections are such as to compensate for all necessary expansion Large condensers may contain several thousand tubes which makes it highly desirable thatV the condenser be of such design as to facilitate all work in connection with necessary replacement repairs, The present invention embodies such a design.

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specication, the invention consists of various features of constructi-on and combination of parts, which will be rst described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a condenser of a preferred form embodying the invention, and the and contraction of the tubes. In the structure shown, the tube sheet I4 is provided with an -opening I5 within which is firmly secured a short length of tubing I6, as by expanding the tubing in the manner common to condenser tubes. The tube I3 extends through the tubing or anchor element I6 and projects a short distance beyond the outer face'of the tube sheet I4, Upon the projecting end of the tube I3 is mounted a rubber connecting element` I'I. This element is of tubular contour and is inserted over both the projecting end of the tube I3 and the anchor element I6. The vconnecting element I1 is bonded at I8 to the outer face of the anchor element I6 and at I9 to the outer face of the tube I3. Each bond I8 lies adjacent one end of the connecting element I'I so that a considerable portion of the connecting element is detached from both the tube I3 and the anchor element I'I.

The tube I3 is of such diameter with respect to the anchor element I6 as to move freely relatively thereto in an axial direction to compensate for expansion and contraction of the tube. Figure 2 illustrates clearance 20 between the tube and the anchor element I6, which clearance is in an exaggerated degree. Accordingly, the tubes I3 of Figure 1 are independently connected with the tube sheet i4 so that each tube may expand or contract independently of all the tubes in the bundle. Expansion of the tube i9 in Figure 2 places the connecting element il in tension, while contraction of the tube places the connecting element in compression, the latter being capable of buckling to accommodate contractions in relatively large amounts.

In a construction such as that shown in Figure 4, the tube sheet 2i is provided with an openn ing 22 through which the tube 23 is passed to project a short distance beyond the outer face of the tube sheet. This tube is also of such diameter with respect to the bore 22 as to have free axial movement relatively to the tube sheet. Such freedom is indicated by the clearance 24, the latter being shown in an exaggerated degree.

Upon the outer end of the tube 23 is mounted a connecting element 25 which may comprise rubber of tubular contour. One end of the connecting element 25 is bonded at 25 tothe outer face of the tube 23 and the opposite endv of the connecting element is flared to provide a flange 2 which is bonded at 29 to the outer face of the'tube sheet 2l. The bond 2S is conned to an area adjacent the perimeter of the flange 2'. so that the connecting element 25 is detached from the tube sheet 2| and the tube 23 throughout the greater length of the connecting element. The construction shown is substantially identical with that illustrated in Figure 2 in that expansion ofthe tube 23 places the connecting element in tension, while contraction of the tuberplaces the connecting elemeni-l in compression.

The construction of Figure diiers in that a rubber connecting element 29 is inserted over one end of the tube 39 but between the tube and the face of the bore 3! inthe tube sheet 32. The connecting element 29 is of tubular contour, and its outer end is flared to provide a ange 33 which is bonded at 34 to the outer face-of the tube sheet 32. The other end of the connecting element 29 is bonded at 35 to the tube 39. While the connecting element 29 is interposed between the tube 3l! andv the tube sheet 92, sufficient clearance is provided between the connecting element andthe face ofthe bore Si, as indicated at 345 to permit free expansion and contractionof the tube 3Q'in an axial direction relatively to the tube sheet 32. The constructionof Figure 5 differs-from the-connections of Figures 2 and 4, principally in the fact that expansion of the tube 39 places the connecting element in compression while contraction of the tube places the connecting element in tension. However,` the connection shown in Figures 2, 4, and 5 are similarV in that the tubes may ex- -pand and Contact independently of the supporting tube sheet as well as with respect to one-another. Such expansion and contraction may be obtained without disrupting the essential fluid-tight joints between the tubes and the-tube sheets,

The term rubber as herein employed also includes equivalent materials of the synthetic class. Many types of plastic now on the market may be employed as a substitute material for the rubber connecting elements illustrated in the drawings. In the case of vacuum condensers where this invention is particularly applicable and' useful, the temperatures are always reiatively loW and this fact makes it lpossible to use a greater variety of rubber-like materials, including natural rubber, than would be possible if the temperatures were substantially higher.

It will be understood that `the invention is not to be limited to the specic construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be widely modied within the invention dened by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a surface condenser, the combination with al tube sheet provided with a plurality oi tube receiving openings, and tubes extending through said openings, of means connecting each of said tubes to said'tube sheet to permit movement of the tubes relative to the tube sheet comprising a tubular sleeve of flexible material extending through a tube receiving opening in the tube sheet and having its inner end bondedA to a tube, the outer end of said flexible sleeve having an annular laterally extending flange thereon, said ange being bonded at its perimeter to'said tube sheet to provide a exible fluid tight seal between the tube and sheet.

2. In a surface condenser, a tube sheet, a tube, a tubular rubber sleeve mounted on the tube and connected thereto-by surface adhesion near the inner end ofthe sleeve, said sheet having an opening slightly larger than the diameter of the sleeve carrying section of the tube, said tube and sleeve being mounted in said opening, said sleeve having a flange connected by surface adhesion to the outside of the tube sheet around said opening.

CHARLES LUCI/IE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lo of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 'Date 1,615,929 Buckles Feb. 1, 1927 1,948,211 Fritz Feb. 20, 1934 2,186,786 Jensen Jan. 9, 1.940 2,349,792 Rosenblad May 23, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 199,709 Germany June 1908 

